Lusangazi District in Eastern Province has continued to face challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation services.
Lusangazi District Administrative Officer Cordrington Sakala, who represented District Commissioner Margaret Zulu, during the commemoration of Global Handwashing Day, said many communities in the district still lack adequate water and sanitation facilities.
Ms. Zulu noted that limited access to clean water and proper sanitation increases the risk of preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections, including COVID-19 and influenza.
She emphasised the importance of regular handwashing with soap, especially before meals, after using the toilet and after caring for the sick, as a key measure to prevent disease transmission.
She further urged residents of Lusangazi to make handwashing a daily routine and called on local leaders to mobilise more resources to improve water and hygiene infrastructure.
“My government continues to drill boreholes and provide sanitation services across the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lusangazi Council Chairperson Blackson Tembo said Global Handwashing Day serves as an important reminder of the life-saving benefits of handwashing with soap.
Mr Tembo described handwashing as a simple yet heroic act that protects public health, particularly that of children, adding that it helps reduce school absenteeism and pressure on the healthcare system.
